A struggling singer-songwriter falls into an intoxicating romance that leads her to a deeper appreciation of her artistic journey and the discovery of a voice that is authentically her own.

For in-depth thoughts on Dandelion, please see my colleague Phoenix Clouden’s review from its theatrical debut here.

Video Quality

Dandelion comes to Blu-Ray in a lovely 1080p presentation that brings the feature to life without an issue. The transfer reveals texture within the costumes, makeup, and production design that adds notable depth to the picture. Skin tones are detailed and natural throughout the ensemble. Highlights are handled well with no indication of blooming, and the black levels are deep and do not suffer from any crush or compression artifacts. The film provides a warmer aesthetic to the color palette which renders well in high definition. There are a number of hues that impress with the depth of the shade. The transfer handles every aspect with the ideal amount of care. IFC Films has done a wonderful job with this release.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a solid DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that effortlessly captures this story. The sound design is not overly agressive, but the sounds conjure a world that has personality. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being overshadowed by competing sounds. Environmental flourishes enrich the soundscape to give the world some unique qualities. Music flows through the room when it needs to with a consistent fidelity. The soundtrack introduces some texture to the low end at points. Nothing comes up short with the audio portion of the disc. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Writer/director/producer Nicole Riegel and director of photography Lauren Guiteras provide an informative commentary track in which they delve into the production, creating the look of the film, the work of the performers, the shooting locations, challenges faced during the shoot, and more.

Deleted Scenes: There is a 15-minute collection of unused footage provided that yields some interesting moments.

Behind The Scenes Footage: A 13-minute collection of fly-on-the-wall footage is provided that largely captures moments in the recording booth.

Behind The Scenes Still Gallery: A two-minute collection of stills from the production is provided.

“River” Music Video (0:56)

Original Trailer (2:00)

Booklet: A multi-page booklet is provided featuring essays from film critic Katie Rife, director Nicole Riegel, producer Adam Cobb, director of photography Lauren Guiteras, colorist Phil Beckner, and sound designer Brian Berger.

Final Thoughts

Dandelion is a stirring story that captures the joy and heartache of chasing your dream against all odds and obstacles. The film captures the unbridled joy that comes with being able to authentically express yourself, and how that feeling can swirl around the people who bring out such creativity inside of you. KiKi Layne provides a nuanced performance that will touch your heart. The secret weapon of the film is the music provided by Aaron and Bryce Dessner, as it both lends credibility to the narrative and moves you with its beauty. This is an underseen gem of a film. IFC Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and some nice special features. Recommended

Dandelion is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome/OCN Distribution.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: IFC Films & OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.